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What does a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary really buy you in South Carolina?
South Carolina is 6.4% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
South Carolina's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 93.6, meaning prices are 6.4% lower the national average. A Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earning $136,990 in South Carolina has the equivalent purchasing power of $146,356 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $85,000 | $90,811 | +$5,811 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $93,580 | $99,978 | +$6,398 |
| Median (P50) | $136,990 | $146,356 | +$9,366 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $151,790 | $162,168 | +$10,378 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $167,720 | $179,188 | +$11,468 |
A Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in South Carolina earns $136,990 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 7% further — like earning $146,356 in an average-cost state. This makes South Carolina one of the best value states for this occupation.
With an RPP of 93.6, South Carolina is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After applying South Carolina's RPP, the $136,990 median salary translates to $146,357 in real terms — a 6.8% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, South Carolina places #3 of 15 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Carolina ranks #3 out of 15 states for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Marine Engineers and Naval Architects take-home pay in South Carolina after taxes →
A Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in South Carolina earns a median salary of $136,990 per year. After adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (RPP=93.6), the real purchasing power is $146,356 — a +6.8% difference.
South Carolina's cost of living is 6.4% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for South Carolina is 93.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in South Carolina: $136,990 x (100 / 93.6) = $146,356. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in South Carolina enjoys 6.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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